Uncertainty of outcome and rule changes in European handball

*Faculty of Logistics Molde University College, Specialized University in Logistics Molde, Norway.**Faculty of Business Administration and Social Science Molde University College, Specialized University in Logistics Molde, Norway

The competitive evolution of European top football – signs of danger

*Faculty of Logistics Molde University College, Specialized University in Logistics Molde, Norway.**Faculty of Business Administration and Social Sciences Molde University College, Specialized University in Logistics Molde, Norway

This paper presents a relatively comprehensive study of how Uncertainty of Outcome has developed over time in major European football leagues. The findings are clear; excitement in football is degrading, closing up on levels that many should find unacceptable. The paper also discusses and proposes some simple means for reversing this development. Key words: Uncertainty of outcome, Regression analysis, Time series analysis, ARIMA modelling, Competitive balance, Football (soccer).

The infiltration of the mafia organized crime in the football sports system

My paper concerns the issue of the infiltration of the mafia organized crime in the football sports system. This is a question of topical interest and is object of particular attention of the italian legislator. Just of late, inside the Anti-mafia Parliamentary Commission has been constituted a special Committee on Mafia and Sports events. The Anti-Mafia Commission has been conducting several auditions of institutional representatives in the sports world, as, particularly, on past July, the chairman of the Italian Olimpic National Committee (CONI), the leadership of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and the representatives of the Professional Football Leagues (A series, B series and PRO).

Fighting doping through sport redesign

This commentary discusses how the rules of the game may affect doping positively and negatively. The link between rules and doping prevalence is established. Some examples are given, indicating what to do and not. The main scientific outcome of the paper is perhaps that the fight against doping can be performed cheaper than through classical means such as improved test quality/higher test frequency, or less progressive (more egalitarian) prize functions, or tougher sanctions. As such, the recommended strategy may be seen as a “Columbi Egg”. But, as always, nothing comes for free, and some serious creativity in sport redesign is needed to realize this method’s potential. Key words: Economics of doping, sport redesign, sport complexity, uncertainty of outcome, anti doping

The alleged causality between number of teams in a league and national team quality.

This article presents a simple linear regression between national football team quality and uncertainty of outcome in associated national leagues. The main results indicate no significant causal relationship between the variables, a conclusion somewhat contradictive to many practitioners argument on improving competitive balance in local leagues as a mean of improving national team quality. Key words: Uncertainty of outcome, FIFA rank, number of teams in league, causality

Aspects of the mental representation of the body in Italian male rugby players

To gain insights on body image (BI) and body satisfaction/dissatisfaction (BS) in high level rugby players, to 47 male athletes aged 23.4 ± 3.54 years, two questionnaires were administered: a figurine test for BI and a Likert-type scale for BS containing a body part statisfaction scale. Subjects were asked to report vital and curricular data, together with height and weight. Because of the wide use of their bodies, it was hypothesized that they were lesser biased than average Italians. They were subdivided into two groups A=Excellence, n=30, and B=League, n=17. This on the basis of the level of performance reached, after a thorough scrutiny of their curricula. Significant differences between the two subgroups emerged for curricular data, weight and body mass index. In both BI data are congruent with their complexion and, for BS, the degree of satisfaction with the various body parts was quite high. Comparisons carried out with data available in literature for Italians and with a cohort of speleologists, confirm the hypothesis that the wide use of the body for working or leisure purposes exerts a positive influence on BI and BS. Key words: Body image, body satisfaction, rugby players.

This article has investigated people’s attitudes towards major sports events, of which two were mega events while one was of a moderate size. Surprisingly, the latter event (the World Skiing Championship) was the one that received most support in hypothetical referendums. This indicates that it is not necessary to invest heavily in venues and upgrading infrastructure to offer citizens the ability to enjoy sports events. The majority of international championships can be hosted at costs that are significantly cheaper than for example the Olympics and similar mega events. This represents an opportunity for cities and nations to have it both ways; achieving the benefits and at discounted prices. The surveys showed that particularly the social dimension was an important part of the events for many respondents. A pattern that was independent of which kind of events and sports they preferred.